Seriously?!?!?!

[u/Nick_Bruiser]

How does this team beat the Lynx but get blown out by the Fire?! This team is such an anomaly! They’re one of the best teams in the W but also the most unpredictable! I don’t even know how to feel going into the playoffs. I feel good because they seem to be good against good teams. But also scared because they seem to fold at the worst poss times!

[u/Gold-and-green]

Teams always play down their competition. Like they probably thought Portland was a free win and didn't care

[u/Ron-C-2321 → u/Gold-and-green]

100% WNBA isn’t like the NBA. Teams really don’t tank.

[u/Gold-and-green → u/Ron-C-2321]

If Portland was smart, they would have lost the game on purpose. They have no all star players and a draft with Juju would help them more than a win for pride lol. It's like the most braindead shit ever.

[u/herecomesthewomp → u/Gold-and-green]

Players are playing for contracts, what might be good for the org isn’t always good for the player. Engstler is on a 1 yr deal and she lit up atl.

[u/Gold-and-green → u/herecomesthewomp]

EXACTLY WHY I WOULD SIT THEM ALL. THEY MIGHT GET A CONTRACT FROM ANOTHER TEAM

[u/Ron-C-2321 → u/Gold-and-green]

The problem is that they were fighting to actually make the playoffs. Not sure that they can out tank the teams below them. Unless you are getting a generational player these GMs and coaches do not value young talent like they should.

[u/XulManjy → u/Ron-C-2321]

They were already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

[u/jayitbyear → u/Gold-and-green]

Portland has no shot at Juju at this point in the season so that's just ridiculous.

Also, they don't have any All-Star players YET.

But they have a very good developing core in Leite, Carleton & Dileo. Have you actually watch more than one Fire game?

[u/Gold-and-green → u/jayitbyear]

TYPICAL BRAIN DEAD RESPONSE. EVERY TEAM IN THE LOTTERY HAS A CHANCE A JUJU. THIS IS LIKE SAYING "DALLAS HAS NO CHANCE AT COOPER FLAG"

PORTLAND WILL BE IN LAST PLACE NEXT SEASON SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TANK

[u/jayitbyear → u/Gold-and-green]

Clearly me questioning whether or not you actually watch any Portland Fire games triggered you into throwing an insult (like a child) and resorting to an all caps reply to, I guess, overcompensate for not knowing shit about the Portland Fire? I'd bet money you know almost nothing about the Fire, actually.

But let's humor your basketball rationale, anyway.

You think the Fire will will be in last place next year because they didn't tank this year? Well, under that rationale, shouldn't they probably have been the worst team THIS season???? They have no stars, right?

In fact, in the expansion draft, they had three chances to pick a star (Mabrey) but, instead, went with a bunch of younger players with high ceilings that most casual fans wouldn't know much about. Their coach was previously an assistsnt coach for the Cleveland Cavs and who was known for player development.

So, again, they should have been the worst team in the league (under your rationale). Yet, here they are sitting in the 9th overall with just four games left, and just missing the playoffs - in their first year.

Their young core three have blossomed (Carleton, Dileo & Leite) and have gotten good play from Engstler, Puoch, and the bench (Williams, Oblak, Samuelson, and Harrison in particular).

This starless roster has been scrappy as hell all season and has produced two wins against Liberty at full strength (minus Ionescu), a full strength Fever, Wings (albeit without Bueckers), two wins vs full strength Dream and a blowout win over a full strength Mystics team.

Additionally, they've had close losses against some of these same top tier teams. Two close games vs Mystics at full strength, including a 4 OT game. Close loss against a full strength Aces. Two close games vs Lynx. One without Collier, and one against a full strength Minny where Lynx blew a 29-pt lead. And a close loss against a full strength Wings team.

That's a hell of a season for a first year team with no stars and a roster that only diehard WNBA fans would recognize.

They're far better than Seattle (two rising stars in Malonga and Johnson), Connecticut (rising star Rivers and aging BG), and a star-led Toronto (Mabrey). Also better than Los Angeles (Hamby, Burrell, rising star Brink & future Hall of Famer Ogwumike) and Chicago (Cloud, Carrington, and rising star Sydney Taylor).

You take all that into consideration and there's a good chance they're actually going to be better next year. Not worse, as you seem to think. And sure - technically they could have a "chance" at Juju, but it's highly unlikely. So there's no need to "tank." Historically, Wnba teams don't tank anyway. That's more of an issue with NBA. Not to mention, only loser-ass organizations tank, in my opinion.

At this point I'd say the "typical brain dead response" was yours. You clearly know nothing about Portland & you gave nothing of substance in your reply, unless typing in all caps and throwing an insult is what you deem substantive.

And BECAUSE you immediately went to insults instead of an intelligent response, just know that you are certainly able to reply again but I will not give you any more of my attention by dignifying anything you have to say with any more replies of my own. Go ahead and type to yourself if you want, though. 👋

Edit to correct grammar & typo

[u/dpmlk14 → u/Gold-and-green]

That would explain the last 2 games…

[u/taylor_12125 → u/Gold-and-green]

And the Lynx probably did the same. You can’t use this excuse only one way

[u/upfulsoul → u/taylor_12125]

Excuses?

[u/Lefty_Country24]

Shxt happens, enjoy the win and the break.

[u/bootybooty2shoes]

Had the wrong mindset going into the Fire game, and it cost them.

Never again!

[u/Contressa3333]

Have you never watched an NBA game? I've seen teams get smoked by the Wizards and go on to beat the Spurs.

[u/Only_Ad8049]

The Fire decided to play like a playoff team and caught the Dream flat footed. Dream has to learn not to under estimate anyone and play each game like it matters.

Teams with nothing to lose are dangerous.

I'm happy they won the series with the lynx though. I'm not going to lie, I didn't think they would.

Bonner got them the bench points they needed today and just about everyone played well.

[u/Immediate_Ruin1048]

This team is like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get

[u/Few_Swimming9690]

I’m just taking the win atp lol

[u/Soggy-Store-6822]

What I remember from my playing days is circling The Team To Beat on the calendar and game planning like crazy for them, while sleeping on the teams we already beat and knew were easily beatable. There was a game I remember from my senior year of high school the team we had already beaten and were bottom of the conference were so hyped to play us on the road the momentum just built for them and they were making their shots. We were in our heads because it was kind of shocking and we couldn't get our bearings in time. It's like they have a big first or second quarter and we spent the rest of the game trying to catch up and chip away at the margin...I'm pretty sure on that game day I didn't give much thought to this team and ate out at mcdonalds or Taco Bell with my friends. it's mental.

[u/upfulsoul → u/Soggy-Store-6822]

How much did you lose by?

[u/jayitbyear]

Sports.

It happens to nearly all great teams, no matter the sport. Sometimes they just have bad games against inferior competition.

It happens. 🤷‍♂️

[u/Valuable-Tip2416]

Good game tonight ladies. Keep fighting for 4th place to gain 1st round home court advantage.

[u/LT_Audio]

1. Portland doesn't suck. Despite their record they're still a pretty formidable team
2. Portland's defensive pressure. Atlanta hasn't faired well against the top rated defensive teams this season. Portland did a lot of hard hedging and trapping and forced a bunch of turnovers.
3. Rhyne Howard was the only player who really had a decent night offensively. It happens. Not everyone has their shots fall every night. And Portland had three players who had really good nights offensively. Law of averages.
4. As Rhyne said postgame... they just didn't commit to making any specific thing really hard for Portland. It was like they had a hard time choosing whether to defend the pick and rolls, drives, and backcuts or the defend the perimeter. And they chose wrong a lot. 50 points in the paint for Portland.

TLDR... Gave up 50 points in the paint, succumbed to the defensive pressure turning the ball over 18 times, and only shot 37% from the field while the Fire shot 59%.

It happens. They looked a lot better today.

[u/WPack911]

Can this sub or fanbase ever just take the W and be happy we have a great playoff team to cheer for? I swear, we just had maybe our best win of the season and you are still stuck on on the game before?!

It was a classic trap game and as Lish said they came out flat and the Fire were on Fire. It happens, no team is perfect, GET OVER IT!!!

[u/xoxohysteria]

woke up at 5:30am to watch them play, im incredibly pleased with this outcome

[u/chebadusa]

Portland rolled out a new strategy (packing the paint, giving up the 3) that they weren’t prepared for, and apparently coaching staff was unable to adjust mid-game. The Lynx tried the same thing and had to abandon that strategy in the second half because it didn’t work.

[u/Maggry]

The teams are wild this year! I have no idea who is going to win the title this year, but am not so sure it will be the Lynx. Other teams are catching up to them. And quickly.

[u/upfulsoul]

This team is not an anomaly. Only the Valkyries have more wins in the last 10 games. The fans who get into doomsday mode anytime the Dream lose are the anomaly. The Fire are the best of the non-playoff teams. They’ve had some upset wins.

[u/Belle_Rose3984]

When they hit their 3s they are tough to beat. When they’re not falling…..

[u/Positive_Fan_5671]

Once I watch the game, I am sure i could tell you why. I know why they lost to fire. Could be same sort of reason

[u/gymtrovert1988]

It's a classic "letdown" game. Teams often lose to crappy teams before or after they have to play a big game. The crappy team has more motivation to win those games.

[u/larrywoods0382]

The bottom line is sometimes a team just has another teams number. Plain and simple.

[u/BboiBlack]

Because it’s the W

Both the lynx and the dream are capable of missing timely shots and things not going their way. Happens to the wings and the fever all the time.
Makes things interesting

[u/Ok_Issue2222]

Inot as unpredictable as the Fever.

[u/GolgenGeese]

Because we don't have a very good bench so if our starters don't play great we will likely lose. That's why the Bonner signing was so huge. We need the depth badly.